Quake Champions is No Longer Free

Quake Champions, which was released in early access in 2017 and has been free to play since 2018, has completely changed its business model with the 1.31 update. New players will now need to purchase the game. However, users who have played the free version at least once before September 23, 2026, will continue to have access without any additional cost. The update not only changes pricing but also fundamentally revamps the progression and shop systems that have been part of the game for years.

Quake Champions Completely Removes Microtransactions

With the 1.31 update, Quake Champions is now a paid game, and microtransactions and in-game purchases have been completely removed. Battle Pass, weekly and event missions, the shop, Platinum and Shard currencies, the loot box system, daily login rewards, and the old Champion Progression structure are no longer present in the game.

In return, players gain access to content from the past 30 seasons, and all champions become directly available. Except for some cosmetic items previously given away through specific campaigns or achievements, most visual content is now publicly available. The user interface has also been redesigned to suit the new system.

The update also brings new content. Alongside new weapons, skins, profile icons, and podium options, a Callvote system has been added, allowing players to vote out cheaters or disruptive players. A new leveling system allows players to progress up to level 999.

Technically, numerous fixes have been implemented, addressing issues such as crashes, incorrect anti-cheat warnings, frame rate fluctuations, and network performance. The number of server hubs has also been reduced to concentrate players in more densely populated areas and shorten matchmaking times. This marks the end of the eight-year free trial period and the transition to a more traditional, one-time purchase model.

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